SE12 - Rescue Tubes

Purpose

To outline the requirements for the design, manufacture and supply of rescue tubes in Aquatic Facilities. A rescue tube is a personal flotation device.

Description

For the purposes of water safety, a rescue tube must be able to meet the following operational requirements:

• Not have any sharp edges or materials that will cause injury to the user
• Offer a patient buoyancy and a means of flotation in all aquatic environments;
• Not obstruct or inhibit the user when swimming;
• Easy to secure around a patient;
• Be suitable and durable for aquatic facility conditions

Technical Specifications

General

Rescue tubes must meet the specifications outlined in the Australian Standard 2259 – General Requirement for Buoyancy Aids.

Construction Material

The material is to be closed cell plastic foam and both durable and flexible. The material is to be as specified in Australian Standard AS 2259 (Burnside Exempt).

Size Specifications

Rescue tubes should meet the following sizes:

• Minimum length 875mm (maximum length 1000mm)
• Maximum breadth 150mm
• Maximum thickness 100mm
• Maximum diameter of 125mm

Buoyancy

The rescue tube is to have a minimum buoyancy factor of 100 newtons in freshwater.

Colour

The body of the rescue tube is to be colour fast, either impregnated, painted or possibly covered and either red, yellow or orange as per Australian Standard AS 1318.

Flexibility

The body of the rescue tube should be able to flex in half with a force of between 5 - 6 kilograms.

Weight

The total weight of the tube should be between 600 - 750 grams.

Hardness

The hardness of the tube should measure between 2-4 Duros.

Strength (Stress)

Webbing, leash and fittings are to be able to withstand a minimum 454.55 kilograms (1000 pounds) of stress without damage in a longitudinal direction.

Stitching/Thread

Stitching to be a locked stitched type 301 of BS 3870 as illustrated in Australian Standard AS 2259. The thread is to have similar properties to the materials being sewn.

Leash

The length of the leash is to be a minimum of 1900mm with a maximum of 2100mm. The leash shall be a synthetic type rope which is UV treated.

Webbing Connections

Webbing used for the connection of ‘O’ rings/clips to the body of the tube will be 25mm wide woven nylon (synthetic).

Lanyard

Webbing for the lanyard is to be 50mm woven nylon with a minimum length of 1300mm and a maximum of 1600mm. If it is to be used as a waist strap it must include a “Fastex Buckle”, with a minimum breaking strain of 315Kg.

'O' Rings

O’ rings to be brass, stainless steel (welded) or nylon. In the case of nylon, they must be UV treated.

‘O’ rings are to be 37.5mm in diameter with no sharp edges or protrusions that may cut or injure the rescuer or patient.

The distance between the extremity of the clip and the first ‘O’ ring, shall be a minimum of 1100mm with a maximum of 1400mm.

The distance between the extremity of the clip and the second ‘O’ ring, shall be a minimum of 1300mm with a maximum of 1650mm.

These two ‘o’ ring stations shall appear, but further stations in either direction can be added.

Clips

The clip shall be a stainless steel snap hook KS2470-70 with an overall length of 70mm. It shall have no sharp edges or protrusions that may cut or injure the rescuer or patient.

Batch Number

Each rescue tube shall be imprinted with a batch number for easy identification of date of manufacture.

Reference

• Australian Standard AS 2259
• Surf Life Saving Australia – Australian Coastal Public Safety Guidelines